The US president has stated that the agents will only safeguard federal properties
US President Donald Trump has directed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to refrain from getting involved in protests in cities run by Democrats during nationwide demonstrations against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The “National Shutdown” was announced on Friday, with organizers urging Americans to avoid work, school, and shopping in a mass strike aimed at compelling the government to halt immigration raids. In Los Angeles, the demonstration turned into clashes with police and federal agents, with protesters taking control of an ICE facility. A similar incident was reported in Eugene, Oregon, where demonstrators broke into a federal building and refused to leave.
In a post on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump said he had “instructed Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, that under no conditions are we going to take part in various poorly managed Democrat Cities regarding their Protests and/or Riots unless, and until, they request our assistance.”
The latest wave of protests was spurred by increasing outrage over the fatal shootings of two US citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, by federal agents during recent enforcement operations in Minneapolis.
Earlier this week, US House Democrats called for Noem’s removal, contending that the violence “must end immediately.” Trump defended the DHS chief, stating that she is only being targeted because she “has done a really GREAT JOB.”